“Ah, sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
Alicia wobbled as she tried to get up hastily. Eric caught her by the waist with his arm.
William, who had been watching with a displeased expression, finally spoke.
“Hey. Really? Is this necessary?”
“?”
“I mean, isn’t this doubleseating a bit annoying?”
Alicia’s face flushed red at William’s criticism.
Eric answered, still not letting go of the tryingtostand Alicia.
“Weren’t there separate royal box seats?”
“Wow, you dare talk back to a prince and get away with it?”
“I apologize.”
William grumbled at Eric’s quick apology, then stood up from his seat.
“Alicia, sit here comfortably.”
“Your Highness.”
“It’s fine. I was planning on leaving anyway. Besides, my grandparents are also here.”
“Ah.”
Alicia and Prince Harry locked eyes as she glanced in the direction William indicated—the emperor and empress were about to take their seats.
Alicia quickly turned her head back to Eric and William, who were still muttering.
“Man, I thought I’d have a nice glass of champagne, but instead, I just get annoyed.”
“I’ll buy you some later.”
“Forget it. I’m a prince, I have money. I’ll buy my own, kid. I’m leaving.”
William muttered something as he watched Alicia sit down and Eric take the seat beside her.
“Obnoxious.”
As soon as Eric heard this, he immediately turned his head towards William.
Their eyes met and William looked slightly irritated. Eric furrowed his brow.
Wondering what was going on, Alicia turned around just in time to see William wave at her with a smile before exiting the box seat.
“Are you okay? Being rude to the Prince?”
“I usually get worse. It’s a give and take.”
“Even so.”
“Don’t forget that the Prince and I are friends. Moreover—”
Eric leaned in and gently brushed Alicia’s cheek with his thumb.
“Eric?”
Alicia was startled, and Eric smiled slyly.
“You had something on your face.”
“Ah. What was it?”
Flustered, Alicia hurriedly rubbed her own cheek.
She had gone to great lengths to dress up for this rare outing together.
“It’s fine. I removed it.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Alicia noticed Prince Harry hurriedly turn his head. Eric leaned back comfortably on the sofa.
“Shall we drink something?”
“There’s champagne here.”
“You’re going to drink?”
“If I’m with you, is it okay?”
“Don’t get used to it.”
Even as he warned her, Eric couldn’t resist and poured champagne into a glass for her.
“Just a little?”
“Alright.”
Although Alicia could probably handle the whole bottle, he gave her a cautionary look before handing her a glass.
“How is it?”
“It’s good. Doesn’t taste like alcohol.”
“That’s dangerous.”
Eric chuckled and set down his glass.
Then, the lights in the concert hall dimmed.
“It must be starting.”
“Seems so.”
Their bodies pressed close as they lowered their voices.
As Alicia put down her glass of champagne and leaned back on the sofa, their hands touched.
Eric’s little finger lightly brushed between Alicia’s ring and little fingers.
Startled by his subtle touch, Alicia flinched, but Eric quickly took her hand and locked their fingers together.
His large hand trapped hers so securely that she felt oddly comforted and smiled quietly.
In the distant royal box seat, Harry sat lost in thought before attempting to stand, only to be stopped by the Empress.
She then whispered softly, inaudible to the Emperor.
“Where are you going?”
“I’ll just go get some fresh air.”
“It’s better if you just sit, Harry.”
“Mother.”
With a sigh, the Empress spoke.
“Harry, just leave it for now.”
“Yes?”
“Let’s talk later. You’ll find it interesting too.”
Though it was dark and hard to see, the corners of the Empress’s lips subtly rose.
(This is a time divider.)
As the intermission began, Alicia headed to the powder room, leaving her box seat.
‘Sigh. It was really enjoyable.’
Though initially distracted by Eric, overall, it was a very satisfying performance.
She was about to enter the hallway leading to the powder room, expecting the remaining second act to be splendid as well.
Just then, she heard someone calling her from behind.
“Alicia Lancaster.”
“Your Highness.”
Alicia quickly turned around to pay her respects to Prince Harry.
Harry glanced around before cautiously speaking.
“Now we can talk.”
“Pardon?”
“I have something to ask you.”
Seeing Harry take a step closer, Alicia involuntarily took a step back.
It wasn’t threatening or imposing.
Rather, Harry’s face was so earnest that she considered whether she should listen.
However, she didn’t want to.
She felt she shouldn’t listen.
At least not now.
“There’s no need to be so guarded. I just want to talk for a moment.”
“…”
“Alicia.”
“I’d rather you not call my fiancée by her name so freely.”
A cold voice sounded from behind Harry—it was Eric.
Harry frowned and turned his head, aiming a retort at Eric.
“How rude, Count Russel.”
“Oh, my apologies, Your Highness.”
With impeccable manners, Eric offered an apology to Harry.
“I didn’t recognize you from the back.”
“…Count.”
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
